How to Build Instagram: Designing a Scalable Instagram System

TLDRLearn how to design a scalable Instagram system, including uploading images, following users, and generating a news feed. Explore the requirements, features, and scalability considerations of building Instagram.

Key insights

🔧Understanding the requirements and features is crucial when designing a scalable Instagram system.

📸Users should be able to upload images from mobile clients like iOS or Android.

👥Implement a user following feature to allow users to follow other users and see their content.

📰Design a news feed to display images from followed users when users visit the app.

🚀Consider the scalability requirements of supporting 10 million active monthly users and 1.2 petabytes of data per year.

Q&A

What are the basic requirements for building Instagram?

The basic requirements include the ability to upload images from mobile clients, a user following feature, and a news feed to display images from followed users.

How can users upload images to Instagram?

Users can upload images from mobile clients like iOS or Android.

Can users follow other users on Instagram?

Yes, Instagram should have a user following feature to allow users to follow other users and see their content.

What is a news feed in Instagram?

A news feed is a feed of images generated by followed users that is displayed when users visit the app.

How scalable should the Instagram system be?

The Instagram system should be designed to support 10 million active monthly users and handle 1.2 petabytes of data per year.

Timestamped Summary

00:00This video discusses how to design a scalable Instagram system.

00:38Start by understanding the requirements and features of building Instagram.

01:25Users should be able to upload images from mobile clients like iOS or Android.

01:57Implement a user following feature to allow users to follow other users and see their content.

02:53Design a news feed to display images from followed users when users visit the app.

05:50Consider the scalability requirements of supporting 10 million active monthly users and 1.2 petabytes of data per year.